Locomotive sand-pipe pilot machine



April 5, 1932. 'r. o. CURTIS LOCQMOTIVE SAND PIPE PILOT MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1930 hm lm m MW TE EEEEQE E: m N mm T- t n v v m0 2. R. fa J flttorn ey Patented Apr. 5, 1932 THOMAS O. CURTIS, OF CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND LOCOMOTIVE SAND PIIPE PILOT MACHINE Application filed December 18, 1930. Serial No. 503,323.

This invention relates to track sanding devices for locomotives and has especial relation to means for controlling the positions of the sand discharge nozzles, whereby the sand may be discharged upon the tracks upon either a straightaway, a curve or a tangent. ld ith the modern freight locomotive, such as the Decapod type, while hauling at their capacity, both rails must be sanded to prevent l0 slipping of the driving wheels, especially when the rails are wet or frosty. In an attempt to meet this requirement, some railroads have added an extra pair of sand pipes to sand the rails in front of the third driving wheels, these pipes being in addition to the pair of sand pipes in advance of the front driving wheel, all four pipes functioning at the same time. This method is unsatisfactory, as the forward sand pipes do not sand the rails or curves so that the driving wheels will continue to slip. This results in delay to trains, damage to equipment and lading caused by rough handling of the train. Slipping of the wheels causes the consumption of extra fuel, in some cases being as much as ten tons on a one hundred mile division, while the delay will frequently reach five hours. This delay will total more than eight hours on the trip and this time must be paid to the train 39 and engine crew which after eight hours means a rate of time and a half, which is an other form of expense.

To overcome these and other disadvantages, the present invention provides a device which may be known as a sand pipe pilot which will sand the rails not only upon a straightaway, but upon curves and tangents also.

Another object, of the invention is the provision of a device of the above character which is positive and reliable in construction and operation and readily controlled.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to he hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

in the drawings partly in elevation. andillustratingthe nozzle '1 moving cylinder.

Figure 6is a fragmentary elevation with parts in section showing the sanding device in position for use.

Referring to the drawings In detail where- 7 in like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the invention as shown comprises a nozzle moving or operating cylinder which includes a spring cylinder 35 and an air cylinder 29. Operating within this air cylinder is a piston 28 which is mounted upon one end of a rod'29, and this rod passes through the spring cylinder 35 and has mounted thereon disks 33 and 34:. These disks are provided with pressurerelief openings and are yieldingly forced apart by means of a spring 32. The disk 33 is slidable upon the rod 30 and bears against a shoulder provided upon the rod and against a shoulder provided at the end of the spring cylinder. The disk 34 bears against a shoulder provided at the opposite end of the spring cylinder and against an adjusting nut which is locked in place by means of a nut 36.

The rod 30 is mounted in a crosshead 38 which operates in a guide 39, and the outer end of this rod which is indicated at 40, has a pivotal connection with an arm 41 which is pivotally mounted as at 42 upon a bracket carried by the locomotive. The lower end of the arm 41 is pivotally connected with a cross bar 43, and this bar is connected to the lower end of sand discharge nozzles 44 which lead from a suitable source of sand supply.

Normally, the nozzles are arranged as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, but when the piston 28 is moved to the right of Figure 5 of the drawings, the bar 43 will be shifted to the left of Figure 6' of the drawings so that the nozzles 44 will discharge sand to the left the drawings, the nozzles 44 will swing to the right to discharge sand upon a left hand curve or tangent.

The piston 28 is operated by air pressure and for this purpose there is provided a. control valve shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. This valve comprises a body 2 and this body is provided with ports 17, 19, 21 and 22, the

ports 19 and 21 being in communication with arcuate recesses 18 and 20 respectively. p The ports 17 are in communication with a sanding device or sand container through the medium of a pipe 14 while the port 22 is in communication with'an air exhaust pipe 25. The port 19 is in communication with a pipe 15 which leads to the air cylinder 20 at one side of the piston 28 while the port 21 is in communication with the cylinder 29 upon the opposite side of the piston 28 through the medium of the pipe 16. I

Rotatable upon the end of the body 2 is a disk valve 3, and this valve is provided with a port 24 and an arcuate recess23. A valve stem 6 passes through the body 2 and has mounted thereon the rotary disk 3 and this disk is held in proper contact with the adjacent end of the body 2 by means of a spring 8 which is located within a recess provided in the body 2 and bears upon the bottom wall of this recess and upon a collar 7 which rests against a shoulderprovided upon the stem 6. A cap 4 is removably secured over the end of the body 2 and is provided with stop shoulders 26 and 27. The shoulders 26 and 27 are adapted to be engaged by a spring influenced dog 10' which is movable within a lug 9 extending from an operating handle 5. This dog 10 is yieldingly forced into contact with the cap 4 by means of a spring 11 and this spring is controlled by a screw 12.

The rotary disk 3 is inclosed within a cap 1 which provides an air chamber and air is supplied to this chamber from a suitable source through the medium of a pipe 13.

In the operation of the device, air enters the control valve through the air supply pipe 13 and passes into the air chamber. With the handle 5 of the Valve in central position as shown in Figure 4, all ports of the valve will be closed. When the handle 5 is moved to the right of Figure 4, to the stop 26, the port 24 of the disk valve 3 registers with the port 17 and air passes through the ports 24 and 17 and through the pipe 14 to the sanding device so as to force sand under pressure to the nozzles 44. If the handle 5 I is moved to the left to the shoulder 26, air passes to the sanding device as above described. When the handle 5 is moved to the right to the shoulder 27, the port 24 registers with the port 21, ports 24 and 17 being still engaged. Air will then also pass out through the pipe 16 to the cylinder 29 at the right of the piston 28 and will force this piston to the left until the end of the piston rod strikes the cylinder head 31. As the piston rod 30 is moved to the left, the lever 41 will bemoved pivotally to shift the bar 43 to the right of Figure 6 of the drawings so that the sand discharge nozzles 44 will be simultaneously moved. When the handle 5 is moved to the left to the shoulder 26, recess 23 will register with the recess 20, also port 21 and pipe 16 and air will be exhausted from the right of the piston 28. The spring 32 which has been compressed by movement of the disk 34 will then act to return the piston 28 to its normal position;

lVhenthe handle 5 is moved to the shoulder 27 at the left of Figure 4, the port 24 registers with the ports 17 and 19v and the pipes l4 and 15. Air then passes to the sanding device through the pipe 14 and to the cylinder 29 to the left of the piston 28, forcing the piston to the right until the nut 26 strikes the shoulder 37 This action moves the disk 33 and compresses the spring 32 in an opposite direction. At the same time, the piston rod is shifted which shifts the bar 43 to the left of Figure 6 of the drawings and likewise changes the position of the sand discharge nozzles. When the handle 5 is moved to the right to the shoulder 26, the recess 23 registers with the recess 18, ports 19 and 22 and the pipe 15, also the cylinder 29 at the left of piston 28, so that pressure from the cylinder is released through the pipe 15 and the exhaust pipe 25 and the spring 32 returns the parts to normal position.

The invention is susceptible of various Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. In a track sanding device, movable sand discharge nozzles adapted to be disposed in advance of the driving wheels of a locomotive and in communication with a source of sand supply, means connecting said nozzles to provide for simultaneous movement and dispose the discharge ends of the nozzles laterally in either direction, air operated means to move said nozzles, means to control a supply of air under pressure to the air operated means, and means included in said controlling means to control a supply of air under pressure to the sand supply. 7

2. In a track sanding device, movable sand discharge nozzles adapted to be disposed in advance of the driving wheels of a locomotive and in communication with a source of to provide for simultaneous movement and dispose the nozzles laterally in either direction, an air cylinder, a spring influenced air operated piston located Within the air cylinder and movable in opposite directions,

means connecting the piston and nozzle connecting means to move the nozzles laterally, selective means to control a supply of air under pressure to either side of the piston, and means included in the air supply control- I ling means to control a supply of air under pressure to the sand supply.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS O. CURTIS. 

